Tanahun. The Division Forest Office has provided Rs 16 million as compensation to the families of the victims of the wildlife attack. An amount of Rs 1 million each has been handed over to the families of 16 children who lost their lives in leopard attacks in different parts of the district.

Forest Officer and Information Officer Raj Kumar Shrestha said that the amount has been provided so far as per the provision of rs 1 million compensation in case of death due to wildlife attack. “Rs 945,526 has been provided to 21 people injured in the wildlife attack,” he said. Eleven boys and five girls have been killed in leopard attacks in different parts of the district for a period of eight years since February 1, 2018.

“Tents have been set up at eight places in the district as leopard menace has increased,” he said. Five community schools in Bandipur and public places where people gather have an awareness hoarding board on how to avoid leopard attacks, according to the office.

Bhanu, Bandipur, Anbukhaireni and Byas municipalities of the district are most affected by the leopard. Bhanu municipality has been the worst affected by leopard attacks. The deceased have been identified as Supriti Thapa, 8, of Bandipur Rural Municipality-5, Supreme Thapa, 5, of Bandipur-1 and Dina Chepang, 11, of Bandipur-3. Similarly, eight-year-old Abhinav Kunwar of Byas Municipality-12, Bishal Shrestha, 6, of Bhanu Municipality-3, Ranjita Lamsal, 4, of Bhanu-4, Pushpa Adhikari, 8, of Bhanu-2, Amrit Gurung, 10, and Ritik Roka, 7, of the same ward died in the leopard attack.

Likewise, Kushal Baniya of Bhanu-1, Rabin Nepali, 2, of Shuklagandaki Municipality-3, Pujan Sinjali, 8, of Abukhaireni Municipality-1, Isaac Sunar, 11, and Narayan Rana, 11, of Bandipur-4, Sundar Achhami, 13, and Anuja BK, 9, of Bandipur Rural Municipality-5, Yampa were also killed in the leopard attack.

According to the office, 20 traps have been laid at different places. Forest Officer Nabin Bishwakarma said that traps have been placed in the vicinity of the area to control the leopard as there is a possibility of re-attacking the area once attacked.